Sanctuary City: Selected Media Articles (February 2017)

March 5, 2017

Solidarity Across Borders Press Conference on “Sanctuary City”

With the announcement of a limited and symbolic Sanctuary City motion to be considered (and eventually passed unanimously) by the City of Montreal this past Monday (February 20, 2017), the migrant justice organization Solidarity Across Borders and allied groups organized a press conference to provide critical perspectives on the motion, rooted in the reality of undocumented migrants living in the Montreal-area. (photo, left, by Jacques Nadeau, Le Devoir)

CTV Montreal: Montreal councillors vote in favour of sanctuary city status (February 20, 2017)www.ctvnews.ca/canada/montreal-councillors-vote-in-favour-of-sanctuary-city-status-1.3293004?autoPlay=true
quote from Solidarity Across Borders member: “The City of Montreal needs to get beyond easy symbolism, and undertake tangible measures to ensure non-cooperation with the Canada Border Services Agency to end deportations and ensure access without fear by undocumented migrants to all essential services, including health care, education, and housing.”

Toronto Star: Montreal becomes fourth Canadian sanctuary city for non-status refugees (February 20, 2017)www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/02/20/montreal-becomes-third-canadian-sanctuary-city.html
quote from Solidarity Across Borders member: “Honestly, in many ways, having a symbolic motion can be worse than having no motion at all. What it does is creates a false sense of security and false sense of protection and the moment where the police are deporting people, you destroy any sense of trust.”

River Left Blog: Trump triggers mixed “Sanctuary City” wave in Canada (February 26, 2017)http://riverleft.org/sanctuary-city/
quote from Solidarity Across Borders member: “They should have called it a motion to look into better accesses for services for refugees, or a motion to discuss the possibility of making Montreal a sanctuary city. It’s irresponsible because it gives the false impression that the city is providing protection and safety.”